new jerseyâ€™s long-range transportation plan

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New Jersey’s Long-Range Transportation Plan

Focus Group Summary Report

August 2006

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Introduction

As part of the public participation process for the New Jersey Long-Range Transportation PlanUpdate, a series of four focus groups was held throughout the state. These focus groups, whichinvolved a variety of constituencies, were conducted to garner public reaction to varioustransportation issues in New Jersey. The groups were convened between August and November2005.

To obtain a variety of responses, each of the focus groups was comprised of different users.Their locations and focuses are listed below.

Location FocusHamilton Disabled travelersJersey City Low-income/minority travelersNewark Urban travelersVineland Rural travelers

Flyers giving a toll-free number to call and announcing that an incentive would be awarded toqualifying participants were distributed in the following manner. The disabled group participantswere recruited by the director of Project Freedom-Hamilton, an assisted-living community inHamilton and Robbinsville, suburbs of Trenton. The director distributed flyers to residents fromboth Project Freedom facilities. The low-income and minority participants were recruited by thedirector of Worldwide Educating Services in Jersey City. This is an organization that assistswelfare recipients in their efforts to rejoin the workforce through education, ESL, driver training,etc. The director distributed flyers to individuals who participate in their various programs. Theurban group was recruited via flyer distribution during the A.M. peak travel period at NewarkPenn Station to users of NJ TRANSIT trains, buses, PATH, and Newark subway. The ruralgroup was recruited through flyer distribution at Vineland City Hall, the Vineland Public Library,and at the community booth at the Cumberland Mall.

A screening method was devised for each focus group to ensure that candidates were qualified toparticipate in the study. Individuals who called the toll-free number on the flyer were asked aseries of questions by staff of Howard/Stein-Hudson to assess eligibility. These questions relatedto age, sex, race, income, and transportation usage. Individuals who were employed by publicrelations firms or directly by transit agencies were automatically disqualified from participating inthe study. Qualified candidates that participated in the focus group discussions were provided astipend of $100.

Discussion guides designed to aid the facilitator during focus group sessions were prepared. Allparticipants were asked questions pertaining to their transportation usage: how and when theytravel; how transportation affects various aspects of their daily lives; and their opinions, good orbad, about the present state of transportation. Participants were also asked what they anticipatedtransportation to be like in the future, what new technological improvements they expected, andthe effect they thought these improvements would have on their lives. The discussion guide forthe disabled group was tailored to their specific needs.

Overarching themes

While many of the discussion guide questions generated mixed responses, there were points ofagreement and themes that arose during the focus groups.

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The groups have extremely different needs and perspectives. Many drivers do not feel safe in their cars for a variety of reasons including: aggressive

drivers; overall congestion; and trucks and SUVs. Use of and reaction to E-ZPass is different among urban and rural users, with much

higher usage and customer appreciation among urban users. Drivers considered the cost of gasoline in how and how often they travel by car. There is general agreement that more bus shelters and better marked bus stops are

desirable. Some participants found the printed and on-line bus schedules to be confusing. There was desire expressed for bus stops with real time information about delays in

service. The disabled group has significant problems with Access Link and relies on regular bus

service if possible because it is easier for them. Train travel is difficult for members ofthis group as well.

Some disabled participants suggested hands-free transit passes. Everyone agreed that congestion would get worse in the future. Many had issues

switching to transit as service currently exists. The High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane concept was not attractive to drivers in the urban

and rural groups. Participants cited GPS technology and text messaging to cell phones and palm pilots as

attractive options for transmitting information on service changes and delays totransportation users in the future.

Trends

The results of the focus groups in 2005 were compared to those conducted for the last Long-Range Transportation Plan update in 2000. There are a number of similarities and somedifferences which are summarized below.

For disabled users, one significant difference from the previous group is that many ofthese participants had switched back to NJ TRANSIT buses due to difficulties withAccess Link. Also, in the 2000 group, participants felt that transportation had improvedin the past 5 years, but the 2005 did not share that opinion. Similarities across the groupsinclude:

o Problems with bus schedules and transferso Bus drivers who do not stop or claim that their lifts are brokeno Frustrations with Access Link wait times, scheduling, availability of service, and

driver behavioro Desire for on-line reservations for Access Link

For low income/minority users, certain concerns and desired improvements remain thesame since the last focus groups. These include:

o More transit service on nights and weekendso Need for cleaner buses and PATH trainso More frequent bus service in general, and bus routes to more locationso Easier access to transit schedule informationo More security on buses and at bus stationso Safety belts on buseso Hudson-Bergen light rail continues to garner praise from low-income/minority

participants. For urban users, similarities between 2000 and 2005 include:

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o Difficulty in using NJ TRANSIT’s web siteo Desire for more frequent trains on nights and weekendso Complaints about bus shelter safety and cleanlinesso Unmarked bus stops and bus drivers who do not automatically stopo Request for buses to be equipped with scheduleso Interest in multi-use transit cardso Desire for access to transit information on hand held devises

For rural users, similarities between 2000 and 2005 include:o Lack of sidewalks inhibiting walking and bikingo Identification of improving road safety as an important issueo Interest in computer navigational systems on cars and along roads

Summary of Focus Group Responses

Below is a summary of each group’s responses to the discussion guide questions.

Introduction of the Participants Disabled –

o 7 of the 11 participants were wheelchair confined.o The participants relied on two primary forms of travel: Local NJ TRANSIT

buses, and Access Link. Car and train travel is rare. Car travel is almost entirelyas passengers.

o Travel is limited to a localized area.o The bus stop in front of Project Freedom-Hamilton was moved to further down

the road. Now people have to rely more on Access Link.o About half of the participants were employed full or part time.

Low-Income/Minorityo The bulk of participants were unemployed and attending classes at Worldwide

Educating Services.o All are regular users of NJ TRANSIT buses.o No car owners, and car travel is rare and very local.o Participants occasionally used PATH to go to NYC

Urbano Most participants were employed and took NJ TRANSIT trains or buses to work

in NJ or NYC, with some transferring to PATH, light rail or shuttles.o A few participants carpooled.o Those that owned cars used them only on weekends.

Ruralo All but two participants commuted regularly to work. Of those, three commuted

by bus and the rest by car.o Most participants had some experience with NJ TRANSIT trains and buses,

private coach buses, and/or PATCO.

Current Conditions – Tell me about the last time you traveled in a car. Was the roadwaysmooth? Have you noticed whether roads are more or less smooth over the past 5 years?

Disabledo Roads are smooth, particularly locally.

Low-Income/Minorityo Mixed responses

Urban

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o Many felt that major roads had gotten better, but there were still many potholes. Rural

o Agreement among all participants that major roads and highways were smoothbut local roads were bumpy and had potholes.

Were there enough information signs available? What types of signs did you notice? Low-Income/Minority

o Signs are good on the Turnpike. Urban

o Agreement that Turnpike signage is better than on the GSP.o Particular concerns were expressed about the lane markings leading to the toll

plazas on the GSP.o E-ZPass should be taken in more lanes in the toll plazas.o Signage is worse in the southern part of the state, particularly the southern part of

the Turnpike. Rural

o Mixed responses.o Two participants felt that there were too many signs.

Did you experience any delays? What kind? Do you know why? Disabled

o There are delays but unless it is obvious like snow, they did not know why. Urban

o Delays due to accidents, rubbernecking, summertime traffic, construction,merging of lanes, traffic lights.

o Signage regarding construction is better on major roads than smaller ones. Rural

o Delays attributed to traffic congestion and driver behavior at merge points.

Did you see (or were you involved in) any vehicle crashes on the way? Have you seen more (orfewer) crashes over the last 5 years? Why do you think that is?

Disabledo Fewer crashes

Low-Income/Minorityo Fewer

Urbano None reported

Ruralo More crashes attributed to speeding and driver distraction.

Do you feel safe in your cars? Have you witnessed or experienced road rage? Disabled

o Most felt safe Low-Income/Minority

o Most did not feel especially safe.o Most attributed this to other drivers who drive wildly, ignore stop signs, and have

road rage. Urban

o Many participants did not feel safe in their cars due to aggressive drivers, SUVs,road rage, too much volume, and pedestrians walking in front of cars

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Ruralo Some participants felt unsafe on the roads due to large trucks and buses.

Do you use toll roads? Do you use E-ZPass? Disabled

o Those who drove did. Low-Income/Minority

o Most did not travel on highways, so did not have E-ZPass Urban

o Everyone loved E-ZPass, but some complained that they are notified too late ifthe balance is running low.

Ruralo One participant had E-ZPass and felt the program should expando Two did not want it for the “aesthetic” reasons due to the need to display the

transponder on the windshield.

Do you car pool or participate in any ridesharing program? Low-Income/Minority

o No Urban

o Participants who carpooled felt it was a great savings on gas and transit passes. Rural

o Three participants carpooled, in part due to the increased cost of gasoline.

Do you think about the cost of gasoline? Disabled

o Yes, it informs choice of how/how often to travel. Low-Income/Minority

o No Urban

o Public transit is cheaper by comparison due to the price of gas.o Participants thought twice about driving.o One participant thought NJ TRANSIT trains were more expensive than driving.

Ruralo Several participants were reducing their trip making to save on gas.o One was considering purchasing a smaller car.o One was considering public transit where possible

What are other obstacles or barriers for you to get to the placed you might want to go by car? Disabled

o Participants identified people parking illegally in spots for disabled people. Onesuggests parking photo IDs.

Tell me about the last time you traveled on transit. Was the vehicle clean? Comfortable? Howabout the bus stop? How about the station?

Disabledo On the Hamilton city buses it is difficult to identify the bus stops.o Drivers don’t stop or claim their lift isn’t workingo Bus shelters are too small for wheelchairso Buses are considered clean

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Low-Income/Minorityo There was general agreement that buses and bus stops are for the most part clean

although a few said buses were dirty.o Buses are crowdedo They would prefer more bus shelterso PATH trains should be cleanero PATH trains should have better AC

Urbano There were mixed reactions based on the train station locationo Some bus stop locations are unmarkedo Some buses are dirtyo Underground subway stations are a messo Many typically have to stand on trainso Bus drivers need to be waved down as they don’t automatically stop

Ruralo Users of the NJ TRANSIT 553 bus to Atlantic City found the buses to be clean

and felt safe with the driver.

Did you feel safe in the vehicle or stop? Disabled

o A couple of participants do not feel safe waiting for the bus Low-Income/Minority

o There was agreement that they felt safe at the bus shelterso Some expressed concern over drivers speedingo They suggested seat belts for bus passengerso Homeless people are a problem in bus shelterso PATH trains should have better security.

Urbano Newark Penn Station has improved, but not Newark Broad St.o Some felt that is was scary to wait at certain bus stops (e.g. Central Ave. and 7th

St.) Rural

o Participants recommended that there be more enclosed shelterso There should be phones and schedule information at bus shelters

Did you get to your destination on time? If not, do you know why? Did you know before hand thatyou were going to be late, or why? Does this happen often, or only occasionally?

Disabledo Buses are less dependable in the middle of the day due to traffic.

Low-Income/Minorityo Bus lateness seemed to depend on the route.o Some routes are chronically lateo Riders cite traffic and driver behavior (stopping to talk) as the reasons for

lateness.o They would like more frequent weekend bus serviceo PATH should run more on weekends and after midnight.

Urbano Most participants did not experience delayso Buses are late in the late afternoon due to traffico Electronic monitoring of buses would help as there is no one to ask about delays.

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Ruralo Three participants experiences delays in buses and attributed it to accidents and

traffic.

Was it easy or hard to find information about the schedule? Disabled

o Timetables should be available on the buseso The on-line format was considered frustrating and not printer-friendly by someo Others thought it was easy to find information.

Low-Income/Minorityo Most felt that it was easy to find information, but some had trouble finding the

schedules. Urban

o Many participants felt that schedules were hard to find and understand.o Schedules should be posted on platforms.o Paper schedules should be available on buseso Posted schedules often have graffitio One thought that schedules were easy to get on-line.

Ruralo Participants found is easy to find schedule information at the bus station, on the

bus, at the library and on-line.

Does your trip require you to transfer from one bus to another or between trains? What is thatlike?

Disabledo One participant felt that their transfer went smoothlyo Two had trouble with transfers, both to find information about schedules, and

where to find the bus stop.o Some sited lack of notification of changes to the schedules

Low-Income/Minorityo A few transferred and said it was straightforward except sometimes the bus

drivers do not wait to pick up transfers Urban

o No Rural

o No

Do you use any jitney or shuttle bus services? Low-Income/Minority

o No Urban

o A few used company shuttles but did not find them very convenient because ofthe infrequency of service.

Ruralo Many suggested local shuttle services to a main transit hubo Some felt that on-call services would not work due to the long wait to reserve

them

Do you purchase weekly or monthly transit passes? Disabled

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o A few had passes.o Suggested discounts on passes for disabled people.

Low-Income/Minorityo Many purchased monthly passes and some received passes through Welfare.

Urbano Most purchased monthly passes, although some purchased weekly passes.

Ruralo One purchased a weekly bus pass

Are you able to take advantage of the pre-tax transit program, sometimes called TransitChek,through your employer?

Low-Income/Minorityo No users

Urbano Five participants had it but others did not know what it was.o TransitChek makes it difficult to purchase transit passes because the machines do

not take them, and the stations are not manned. Rural

o None used TransitChek and only one had heard of the program

What are the other obstacles or barriers for you to get to the places you might want to go ontransit?

Disabledo Many had significant problems with train travel:o Some had difficulty with buying tickets in general and validating them on the

River lineo Trains are considered too tight for wheelchairso Elevators do not always worko There is not enough time to board or disembark from trains.

Tell me about the last time you traveled on paratransit. What type of vehicle did you travel in? Disabled

o Access Link

Did you get to your destination on time? If not, do you know why? Did you know before hand thatyou were going to be late, or why? Does this happen often, or only occasionally?

Disabledo They had significant issues with Access Link and getting places on time.o There is too large a window of arrival timeso They are never sure how long trip will takeo There is no effort to consolidate trip making – if three people call, three vehicles

will comeo It is hard to use for commuting to work because the arrival time is not

dependableo There are long waits at transfer points – riders are left to wait without sufficient

information about when the next vehicle will arrive.

Was it easy or hard to schedule the trip? Disabled

o There are significant issues with scheduling Access Link trips

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o There is no on-line option for reserving appointments and some cannot beunderstood on the telephone

o Appointments need to be scheduled a week in advanceo Regular commutation has to be scheduled weekly. There are long telephone

waits to talk to the schedulero The schedule has changed and Access Link is no longer available for night trips

Now I would like to switch our focus to the future, and I have some questions about what you seeas the critical issues that need to be addressed in the next 25 years. What should NJDOT and NJTRANSIT focus on in the future specifically to meet the needs of the disabled?

Disabledo Some suggested allowing wheelchairs to enter in the front of the bus where there

is more roomo Buses need better design for wheelchairso Access Link should be made part of NJ TRANSIT rather than run by

independent contractors. NJ TRANSIT should not run Access Link just becauseit is required, they need to care about disabled customers

o Disabled riders should be more involved with design and operation of buses andparatransit vehicles

o A web site is a better tool to help with providing information on transferso Hands-free debit/transit cards should be createdo Bus schedules should be easier to read, with larger print

Do you think congestion on the roads will be worse in 25 years? Low-Income/Minority

o All agreed that congestion would worsen citing population growth, peoplemoving to suburbs, longer commutes, and people tiring of public transit andopting to drive as among the reasons.

Urbano They agreed that congestion will worsen due to companies and people moving to

NJ, population increases, and ease of financing car purchaseso One felt that hybrid cars will make people less concerned about gas prices

Ruralo The majority felt that congestion would get worse due to more people moving to

the suburbs, and growth in driver population.

For those of you who drive, what would it take to get you to switch to transit? Low-Income/Minority

o Participants felt that transit would need to be more reliable, have more optionsand be more frequent.

Urbano Participants needed more efficiency, options, flexibility, frequency and safetyo One suggested that NJ TRANSIT should give out free passes to get people to try

transito NJ rail should honor bus passeso Some felt that child care requires more flexibility than transit offerso The cost of transit was considered too higho Some felt that shuttles to train stations would help

Rural

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o One participant would consider transit if it was in walking distance and the costwas low.

o One felt that congestion would have to worsen before they would consider aswitch to transit.

For those of you who drive alone, what would it take to get you to carpool? Urban

o Carpool lanes would be a good incentive, but it is hard to find partners.

Would you be willing to pay a toll or a higher toll for use of a special lane that would allow youto make a faster, less congested trip?

Urbano Most thought specific lanes would not help citing the XBL lane to the Lincoln

Tunnel Rural

o The participants were against this ideao The lane would get congestedo Cars already travel at too high speedso Existing roads should be fixed firsto It is wrong to send the message that if you pay more, things will get done more

quickly

For those of you who use transit, if you had a choice, would you prefer to have more frequenttrains or buses along current routes, or would you like to see more routes to go to more placesbeyond the existing transit network?

Disabledo Most preferred more routes to different places

Low-Income/Minorityo Some felt that NJ TRANSIT should reexamine the routes they have to determine

whether they are optimal.o They suggested that there be better coordination between NJ TRANSIT and the

private bus operators Urban

o Most preferred more routes over more frequency.o They suggested that bus service be expanded where roadways are most congested

Ruralo The participants wanted a mixture of both options

Would you be willing to pay more for more transit service? Or for transit to more places? Disabled

o The majority would support paying more. Low-Income/Minority

o Participants felt like they were already paying enough.

Are you aware of any big transit projects that the state is currently considering? What do youthink of them?

Disabledo One was aware of the River Line

Low-Income/Minority

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o Many had taken the Hudson Bergen Light Rail and gave it good marks forfrequency of service, and ease of getting baby carriages on

Urbano Four had heard of a tunnel to 34th St.o Two had heard of potential extensions to the Hudson-Bergen light railo One had heard of a potential connection between the Raritan Valley line and the

Northeast Corridor line Rural

o One had heard of the River Line in Camdeno One had heard of a potential high speed train line from Camden to Atlantic City

Have you heard of Access to the Region’s Core, which is studying creating an additional railtunnel to Manhattan. How did you hear about it? Do you know what it is called? (THE Tunnel =TransHudson Express) What do you think of that idea?

Disabledo No one had heard of this project

Low-Income/Minorityo One had heard about this on the news

Urbano Four had heard of this but not by name

Ruralo No one had heard of this project

Would any of you consider switching to biking or walking to work or other destinations? Whatwould need to take place over the next 25 years to help you make that choice?

Low-Income/Minorityo Some felt that it is currently too dangerous to ride bikes with driver misbehavior.o Others felt that it was currently too dangerous to walk due to menacing homeless

peopleo They felt that bike lanes and sidewalk repairs would help

Urbano A few would consider biking if there were bike lanes and if bikes were allowed

on trains and buses during peak travel hourso Many said they could not afford to live within walking distance to train stations

Ruralo One would consider walking or biking but said there are no sidewalks, shoulders

or bike lanes nearby

With more trucks on our roads, do you think it makes sense to try to shift more freight to trains?As a tradeoff, do you think you and your neighbors would accept more freight trains running if itmeant fewer trucks on the road?

Disabledo The participants expressed no particular support for rail freight as there would

still need to be local truck tripso Some cited at-grade crossings for freight trains is an issue for traffico Some suggested that trucks should run on cleaner fuelso DOT should monitor trucks for compliance

Low-Income/Minorityo There were mixed responses, with some liking freight by train because it would

keep trucks off the highway.

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o Others felt trucks cause traffic accidents and intimidate smaller cars.o Those against rail freight said there would still need to be trucks on the roadso They also felt that trains are noisy and dangerous at crossings

Urbano There were mixed reactions with those in favor of rail freight saying it would be

safer, and better for the environmento Those against said that trains created traffic at crossings, trucks would still be

necessary for local deliveries, no one would want a freight train in their backyards, trains are noisy, and would have a negative impact on property values.

o One suggested that towns could be given incentives to allow freight trains to runthrough them

Ruralo There were mixed reactions with those in favor of rail freight saying it would be

safer, and cost lesso Those against rail freight said that truck drivers would be out of work, people

would complain about noise, and trains can transport dangerous materials.o One suggested that more cargo be shipped by air.

Let’s talk about where you live. Would you like to live nearer to transit? Would you be willing inthe future to live in a more densely developed place in order to preserve more “open space” orland that does not have houses or commercial buildings on it?

Urbano The majority felt that is was better to live with more space, even if that was

farther from transito A couple of participants would prefer to live in a more dense area and be closer

to transit Rural

o Three participants said they would like to live in a denser area as it would beworth it for the convenience of being nearer to transit

We have identified a lot of issues and a lot of future needs. What do you think is the best way topay for all of this? Who should take responsibility for solving these problems? What shouldNJDOT and NJ TRANSIT focus on in the future?

Disabledo Some felt individual travelers should pay for these needso Others said there should be more use of public transito One felt the transportation system needs to be more comprehensive to provide

people with an incentive for them to pay more Low-Income/Minority

o Some felt government and corporations should payo One felt that technology could bring down costs in the future, but would not want

to replace people with machines as that would leave no one around to help incase of emergency

Urbano Suggestions included eliminating waste at NJ TRANSITo One said that bonds would need to be issuedo One said that the Federal government should payo One felt that communities would not mind higher taxes if service was good

Ruralo One asked once a toll road is paid for, where does the money go?

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o Taxes on transportation should be used for transportation projectso One asked where has the surplus gone? Spending more wisely is the answero One suggested a lottery specifically for transportationo One said to reduce the number of state troopers to reduce money spent on salarieso One suggested dedicating money from speeding tickets to pay for roads

Now I want to talk about the Role of Technology. What kinds of technology do you think will beavailable in the future that will improve or enhance transportation possibilities?

Low-Income/Minorityo Heated bus shelterso Trucks on bargeso More manufacturing in NYC to reduce long haul truckso Timed stop lightso PATH ticket machines equipped to take dollar bills.

Urbano Palm pilots and wireless internet connectionso Schedules available on cell phones or Palm Pilotso A multipass for any means of transportationo Increased train speeds.o Wireless internet on all trainso E-tickets for transito Mag levo Stop underfunding Amtrak

Ruralo GPS systems like “Onstar” where you can call people from carso Smart highways that can signal drivers about alerts and about exceeding the

speed limito Replacing road signs with Onstar and MapQuest on dashboardso Better lit signso More roads and highways

What do you think about extending the capabilities of something like the E-ZPass? For instance,one card that would pay tolls, transit, buy gas, and enable you to make phone calls.

Disabledo One liked the idea of one card that would serve multi-purposes. Most had

difficulty with using their hands. Low-Income/Minority

o Two liked the idea of one card for multi-purposes. Urban

o Some were worried about credit card securityo Some liked the system in Secaucus where you put your ticket through a turnstile

– conductors are too primitive Rural

o The majority liked the idea of a multi-functioning cardo One was concerned about losing their identityo The card should operate with a fingerprint to prevent hacking

What kind of technology would you be interested in to get more information about traveling?Prompt for:

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Trip planning En-route information Transit and highway Local and long-distance

Disabledo Automated voice mail updates to cell phoneso Online information

Low-Income/Minorityo Updates to NJ TRANSIT’s web site so it is less confusing and has more

information about best choices for trip planningo Bus schedules with bigger typeo Information about bus delayso Text messages to cell phone with transit informationo Phones at shelters to contact dispatcher and inquire about delays

Urbano TVo Touch screen kioskso Monitors with information on alternative routeso Text messagingo Better communication in emergencies and delays

Ruralo Navigational systems which provide information early enough to make proper

decisions

What kind of technology would you be interested in that would make your trip faster? Safer?More comfortable?

Low-Income/Minorityo More security officerso Panic buttons that connect to policeo Bus drivers should let passengers sit before moving the bus.

Urbano Modernize trains and stationso Express trainso One ticket for allo More frequent serviceo More metal detectors, military presenceo Better sound systems on trainso Better trained personnelo Improved bus dispatching

Ruralo Earlier information about traffic and accidentso More ergonomic seats and seatbeltso Seatbelts on buseso Airbags all around the car

Other thoughts? Disabled

o NJ TRANSIT should decide whether it is running a paratransit system merely asa federal request or because it is good for the community.

Urban

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o One wants more information and more focus groups to take place Rural

o Insurance costs are too higho There is concern about uninsured immigrant driverso NJ needs another North/South highwayo Eminent domain should be avoidedo There needs to be more public meetings

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APPENDIX A: Focus Group Logistics and Demographics

DisabledLocation: Project Freedom in HamiltonRecruit from Project Freedom in Hamilton and RobbinsvilleAugust 2, 2005, 6-8 PM11 Participants

HAMILTON DISABLED FOCUS GROUP RECRUITMENT GRID

Sex Race/ Ethnicity AgeTransituser?

Paratransituser?

RegularCommuter to

Work orSchool? Disability

F Caucasian 25-34 Yes No No Back and HIVF Caucasian 35-44 Yes Yes Yes Tarsal TunnelF African American 55-65 Yes Yes No Legally blind, ArthritisF African American 35-44 No Yes No Cerebral Palsy, VisualM Caucasian 35-44 Yes Yes Yes Spinal injuryM Caucasian 35-44 Yes Yes Yes Cerebral PalsyM African American 35-44 Yes No Yes Learning DisabilityM Caucasian 35-44 No Yes Yes Cerebral Palsy

M African American 35-44 No Yes YesGB Syndrome,

Momentary ArthritisM Caucasian 25-34 No Yes Yes Cerebral PalsyM Caucasian 45-54 Yes Yes Yes Cerebral Palsy

Low-Income and MinorityLocation: Worldwide Educating ServicesRecruit from Worldwide Education ServicesAugust 9, 2005, 6-8 PM13 Participants

JERSEY CITY EJ FOCUS GROUP RECRUITMENT GRID

Sex Income Race/ Ethnicity AgeBus

user? Car user?Transituser?

RegularCommuter to

Work orSchool?

F Below $10,000 African American 35-44 Yes No Yes YesF Below $10,000 African American 18-24 Yes No Yes YesF Below $10,000 African American 35-44 Yes No Yes YesF Below $10,000 African American 35-44 Yes No Yes Yes

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F$20,000 to

$40,000 African American 18-24 Yes No Yes YesF Below $10,000 Caucasian 45-54 Yes No Yes YesF Below $10,000 African American 18-24 Yes No Yes YesF Below $10,000 Caucasian 25-34 Yes No Yes YesF Below $10,000 African American 25-34 Yes No Yes Yes

F$10,000 to

$30,000 Hispanic 18-24 Yes No Yes YesF Below $10,000 Hispanic 25-34 Yes No Yes YesM Welfare African American 45-54 Yes No Yes YesM Below $10,000 Hispanic 45-54 Yes No Yes Yes

UrbanLocation: NJ TRANSIT HeadquartersRecruit from Newark Penn StationAugust 17, 2005, 6-8 PM13 Participants

NEWARK URBAN FOCUS GROUP RECRUITMENT GRID

Sex Race/ Ethnicity Age Train user? Bus user? Car user?

RegularCommuter to

Work or School?F African American 18-24 Yes No No NoF African American 45-54 No Yes Yes YesF African American 45-54 Yes No No YesF African American 45-54 Yes No Yes YesF African American 45-54 Yes No No YesF Caucasian 25-34 Yes Yes Yes YesF African American 25-34 No Yes No YesF Caucasian 35-44 Yes No No YesM African American 45-54 Yes Yes Yes YesM Other 35-44 Yes Yes No YesM Caucasian 45-54 Yes No No YesM Hispanic 35-44 No Yes No YesM Caucasian 35-44 Yes No No Yes

RuralLocation: Vineland City HallRecruit from Vineland City Hall, Public Library, Community Booth at Cumberland MallNovember 3, 2005, 6-8 PM12 Participants

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CUMBERLAND RURAL FOCUS GROUP RECRUITMENT GRID

Sex Race/ Ethnicity Age Bus user? Regular Commuter toWork or School?

F Hispanic 45-54 No YesF African American 55-75 No NoF African American 45-54 No YesF African American 25-34 Yes YesF African American 55-75 No NoF Caucasian 25-34 No YesF Other 55-75 No NoM African American 45-54 Yes NoM Caucasian 35-44 No YesM African American 35-44 No YesM African American 45-54 Yes YesM Caucasian 55-75 No Yes

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APPENDIX B: Sample Screener

New Jersey DOT and NJ TRANSIT 2030 Long Range Plan

DRAFT SCREENER

FOCUS GROUP: UrbanLOCATION: NJ TRANSIT Headquarters, NewarkDATE: August 17TIME: 6-8 PM

SOURCE FOR RECRUITING:

Recipients of flyers at Newark Penn Station

RECRUITING GOALS:

Mix of incomes Recruit 14 participants, so that 10 –12 will show up for the focus group. Approximately 50/50 mix of men and women. Try for at least 4 Hispanic/Spanish/Latino or non-Caucasian participants. Recruit a mix of ages between 18 and 65. Try for a minimum of 4 bus users. Try for a minimum of 4 train, PATH, HBLR or Newark Subway users. Try for a minimum of 4 car users. Try for a minimum of 4 regular commuters.

Date: ________________________________________

Name of Screener: __________________________________

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for calling in response to the flyer you received in the past few days regarding a focusgroup that the New Jersey Department of Transportation and NJ TRANSIT are holding as part ofthe update to their long-range transportation plan. .

What color is the flyer you received? [GO TO CORRECT SCREENER]

This focus group will be held on Wednesday, August 17 from 6-8 PM in Newark. You wouldreceive $125 for attending and be served a light meal. If selected, you will be contacted at a laterdate with further information. Would you be interested in participating in a focus group? If so,then I need to ask you a few questions.GENDER

Male Try for a 50/50 mix Female

2/20/2007

1. Are you or any member of your household employed by … READ

A market research company A public relations firm An advertising agency A public transportation company READ (PATH, AMTRAK, NJ TRANSIT)

IF YES TO ANY, THANK AND TERMINATE

2. Which mode of transportation do you usually take? READ

Bus Try for a minimum of 4 PATH Newark Subway Hudson Bergen Light Rail NJ TRANSIT Train Try for a minimum of 4 train users Car Try for a minimum of 4 Other THANK AND TERMINATE

Respondent should pick one mode that they use most frequently (unless they use twomodes as part of their daily trip)

3. How many times a week do you use this mode? READ

Less than once a week: TERMINATE Two to three days a week Four—Five days per week

4. Do you use this mode to commute to work?

Yes Try for a minimum of 4 No

5. At what time of the day are you most likely to travel? READ

Morning (6:00 AM – 10:00 AM) Mid-day (10:00 AM - 2:00 PM) Afternoon (2:00 PM – 6:00 PM) Evening (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM) Night (10:00 PM – 1:00 AM)

*Note: Two possible times can be given to complete the round-trip

6. Which category best describes your age? READ

Under 18 THANK AND TERMINATE 18-24 years old

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25-34 years old 35-44 years old GET A MIX 45-54 years old 55-65 years old 66 and over THANK AND TERMINATE Refused THANK AND TERMINATE

7. What is your race or ethnicity?

Caucasian/White African American/Black Hispanic Try for a minimum of 4 non-Caucasian Asian Other

8. What is your household income? READ Below $20,000 $20,000 to $35,000 $35,000 to $50,000 GET A MIX $50,000 to $75,000 $75,000-$100,000 $100,000+

RECRUIT

We would like to invite you to participate in a focus group about transportation in NewJersey. This discussion will last 2 hours and you will receive $125 for your time. Canwe count on your participation in our focus group?

Yes-----RECRUIT 14 FOR 10-12 TO SHOWREAD DESCRIPTION BELOW

No -----THANK AND TERMINATE

The two-hour focus group will be held at NJ TRANSIT HEADQUARTERS, locatedat 1 PENN PLAZA EAST, NEWARK, NJ.

A MEAL AND BEVERAGES WILL BE PROVIDED.

Respondent’s Name:______________________________________

Home Phone:_________________________________________

Work Phone:__________________________________________

Cell Phone:____________________________________________

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Recruiter: __________________________ Date:_______________

I WILL BE SENDING YOU A CONFIRMATION LETTER WHICH WILLINCLUDE DIRECTIONS TO THE MEETING FACILITY. DO YOU HAVEACCESS TO A FAX MACHINE OR AN E-MAIL ADDRESS? OTHERWISE IWILL OVERNIGHT YOU A COPY.

Fax: __________________________________________________

E-mail address:__________________________________________

IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU BRING THIS LETTER WITH YOU ALONGWITH A PHOTO ID.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR FOCUSGROUP.

Follow up call:Confirmed by:______________________ Date:_______________

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APPENDIX C: Sample Discussion Guide

Revised Discussion Guide for Newark Urban Focus Group

1. Introduction by Facilitator (0:00-0:05) 5 Minutes

Facilitator thanks everyone for coming. He states that this focus group is sponsored by NewJersey DOT and NJ TRANSIT as part of the public involvement component of the New JerseyLong-Range Transportation Plan update. The agencies hope to understand how residents thinkand feel about transportation issues in their communities, and across the State.

The facilitator explains how a focus group works: Facilitator will ask questions Participants are encouraged to give their opinions There are no right or wrong answers

The three basic groundrules: Don’t interrupt the speakers No side conversations Facilitator may need to cut off discussion at different points in order to cover all the topics.

At the end of the focus group, each participant will receive his/her payment

Participants are told that this meeting is being audiotaped, so that a summary can be written. Forthe same reason, there is a note taker. There will be no attribution of any of the comments to aspecific person and nowhere in the summary will the names of the participants appear.

Also, participants are told that the additional people in the room are observers who have a keeninterest in their thoughts and ideas. They are here to gain immediate, first-hand knowledge ofwhat is said today, but they won’t be participating in the discussion.

Any questions?

2. Introduction of the Participants (0:05-0:15) 10 Minutes

Participants are asked to introduce themselves, telling us: Name Where they live What their most typical trip is like What mode of transportation they use How do other family members travel Origin and destination points Time of day they travel How many times per week they travel Purpose?

3. Brief Overview of the Transportation Choices 2030 (0:15-0:20) 5 minutes

The moderator will then give a brief overview of Transportation Choices 2030.

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The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and NJ TRANSIT are preparingthe latest update to the New Jersey Long Range Transportation Plan, known asTransportation Choices 2030. States are required to prepare long range transportationplans and update them every five years.

Why does New Jersey plan ahead for transportation choices 25 years from now? We allknow that it takes a long time to plan for and pay for changes and improvements to thetransportation network. New Jersey has a complex system of roads, airports, publictransit, and freight transport. There are a number of challenges facing the state in thenext 25 years, and NJDOT and NJ TRANSIT are making sure that these challenges willbe met for the benefit of the entire state.

These are just some of the critical issues facing the state’s transportation network:

Innovative financingFederal, state and local transportation funds are not sufficient to meet the increasingtransportation needs for New Jersey residents, visitors, and businesses. We need to find newways to pay for our highways and our public transit.

Increasing CongestionThe state's roads are among the most heavily traveled in the nation. Congestion is making travelmore difficult and increasing the amount of time we have to spend simply running errands andgetting to and from work.

Aging InfrastructureNew Jersey has made an enormous investment in its highways, bridges, public transportation,ports, and airports. As these facilities age, maintaining them takes a large portion of the moneydedicated to transportation and this amount continues to increase.

Access to jobsEveryone must be able to get to his or her workplace. One of the chief transportation challengesfacing urban residents is getting to jobs that are now often located in the suburbs.

Mobility for an aging populationAs the Baby Boomers age, their transportation needs are changing. We need to betteraccommodate older drivers and transit users, and provide transportation for people who can’tdrive or don’t want to and who can’t use public transportation or don’t have access to it.

Safety & Security will continue to be crucial.

Transit capacity and expansionNJ TRANSIT operates the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing bus,rail and light rail services. Even so, more and more people want to be able to use this system togo where they want to go when they want to go there. They would like more service, and inmany cases for longer hours.

While our main focus this evening is to talk about the future, I want to spend a bit of time on whatit is like to travel in 2005.

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4. Current Conditions – Tell me about the last time you traveled in a car.(0:20-0:35) 15 minutes

Was the roadway smooth? Have you noticed whether roads are more or less smooth over thepast 5 years?

Were there enough information signs available? What types of signs did you notice? Did you experience any delays? What kind? Do you know why? Did you see (or were you involved in) any vehicle crashes on the way? Have you seen more

(or fewer) crashes over the last 5 years? Why do you think that is? Do you feel safe in your cars? Have you witnessed or experienced road rage? Do you use toll roads? Do you use E-ZPass? Do you car pool or participate in any ridesharing program? Do you think about the cost of gasoline?

5. Current Conditions – Tell me about the last time you traveled on transit(0:35-0:50) 15 minutes

Was the vehicle clean? comfortable? How about the bus stop? How about the station? Did you feel safe in the vehicle or stop? Did you get to your destination on time? If not, do you know why? Did you know before

hand that you were going to be late, or why? Does this happen often, or only occasionally? Was it easy or hard to find information about the schedule? Does your trip require you to transfer from one bus to another or between trains? What is

that like? Do you use any jitney or shuttle bus services? Do you purchase weekly or monthly transit passes? Are you able to take advantage of the pre-tax transit program, sometimes called TransitChek,

through your employer?

6. Now I would like to switch our focus to the future, and I have some questions about what yousee as the critical issues that need to be addressed in the next 25 years.

(0:50 – 1:44) 54 minutes

Do you think congestion on the roads will be worse in 25 years? For those of you who drive, what would it take to get you to switch to transit? For those of you who drive alone, what would it take to get you to carpool? Would you be willing to pay a toll or a higher toll for use of a special lane that would allow

you to make a faster, less congested trip? Would a continual increase in gas prices influence your travel by car? For those of you who use transit, if you had a choice, would you prefer to have more frequent

trains or buses along current routes, or would you like to see more routes to go to more placesbeyond the existing transit network?

Would you be willing to pay more for more transit service? Or for transit to more places? Are you aware of any big transit projects that the state is currently considering? What do you

think of them?

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Have you heard of Access to the Region’s Core, which is studying creating an additional railtunnel to Manhattan. How did you hear about it? Do you know what it is called? (THETunnel = TransHudson Express) What do you think of that idea?

Would any of you consider switching to biking or walking to work or other destinations?What would need to take place over the next 25 years to help you make that choice?

With more trucks on our roads, do you think it makes sense to try to shift more freight totrains? As a tradeoff, do you think you and your neighbors would accept more freight trainsrunning if it meant fewer trucks on the road?

Let’s talk about where you live. Would you like to live nearer to transit? Would you bewilling in the future to live in a more densely developed place in order to preserve more“open space” or land that does not have houses or commercial buildings on it?

We have identified a lot of issues and a lot of future needs. What do you think is the bestway to pay for all of this? Who should take responsibility for solving these problems? Whatshould NJDOT and NJ TRANSIT focus on in the future?

7. Now I want to talk about the Role of Technology (1:44-1:59) 15 Minutes

How many of you have a cell phone? How many of you had one 5 years ago? What kinds of technology do you think will be available in the future that will improve or

enhance transportation possibilities? What do you think about extending the capabilities of something like the E-ZPass? For

instance, one card that would pay tolls, transit, buy gas, and enable you to make phone calls. What kind of technology would you be interested in to get more information about traveling?

Prompt for: Trip planning En-route information Transit and highway Local and long-distance

What kind of technology would you be interested in that would make your trip faster? Safer?More comfortable?

8. Conclusion (1:59 – 2:00) 1 minute

Moderator will ask the observers if they have any questions. He/she will then thank theparticipants and ask that they stop by the sign in table to collect their honorarium.

new jerseyâ€™s long-range transportation plan

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